The Three O'Clock Incident

[tonychel]

I would like to share you an article I wrote last May 2002 for Couples for Christ
site at http://www.cfchk.org/. 
I sometimes share this story on CLP (Christian Life Programs)

  
 


We've been in CFC for about 2 years now. Rachel was 3 months pregnant when
we first attended the Christian Life Program of Couples for Christ in Tsing Yi.
Before we finish the CLP, Rachel lost her baby and we graduated CLP without our
first baby after 2 years in marriage. It was really a sad experience to us. A month
after, I lost my job . I didn’t understand why all those things happened after we
decided to follow Jesus and be of service to God our Father. Little did i know that
God was slowly changing me. Little by little He put all those things in order. He
then gave a better job, which I really like. We moved from Lantau to Sham Tseng,
close to my site office. We enjoyed more especially during household meetings
because we didn’t have to travel to Lantau for hours. Household meetings become
our routine and there we become more attached to other members. Little by little
we grow in faith together.We tried to live as Christian couple, but there's still
something missing.

Last year, Rachel got pregnant for the second time. We were so happy that
God answered our prayer. That was His own time, that Rachel will soon have
her baby boy. She stopped working to have more time to take care of herself.
I let her take time to enjoy her prenatal period without having to wake up early
and get off to office. She had her periodic checkup in Chai Wan. It was in her
third trimester that her sugar level rose to above normal. She had her gestational
diabetes, the reason why we lost our first baby. First week of January this year,
she was confined in hospital to monitor the baby and to lower her sugar to normal.
And for the first time, we slept on a separate bed at night. She was in the hospital
while I had to go back home and sleep alone. Those were the lonely nights I had.
Master bed suddenly became too big. Every night, after 6, I had to rush to Pamela
Youde hospital in Chai Wan for an hour. We’re expecting she’ll be fine in few
days and one week is long enough. But days went on. Yet, insulin didn’t help.
Not only Rachel and me got really worried, but also the doctors. They didn’t
understand why her sugar level won’t get to normal just like other pregnant patients.
They’re worried about our baby, which will be affected. The other concern was that
our baby has an enlarged or dilated left kidney. We’re still so lucky we are in CFC.
Brother and sisters didn’t stop praying for Rachel and our baby. Brother Joel B
arranged a household meeting in Chai Wan just to pray and be with Rachel. Some
elders went also to visit and pray over for her.

My mind gets gloomy as days passed by. I was not able to concentrate on my job.
There were lots of work to finish but my boss understands and let me go and not
to take overtime . I had to call overseas to Manila everyday to update our relatives
of her condition. Three weeks passed and Rachel didn’t get well . Although I’m
scared I didn’t lose my hope. There were times that I was crying while talking
to Rachel and saying everything will be all right.

Yes, sweetheart, God will never let us down again. He loves us. Our baby is a gift.
I put all my trust in Him and let Him take charge of the situation. I prayed sang, praised
and thanked Him for everything, for giving Rachel again this baby and for those difficulties
we're having that time.

We decided to go back to Manila. We ask permission from the hospital to let us go.
The Director of OB Dept. supported our decision and gave us all her records and
permit to fly. Rachel was 8 months pregnant, so we had a hard time getting in to
plane. Rachel stayed home in Tondo and continued injecting insulin and monitored
her sugar by herself. We went to see her OB and had her check up. I flew back to
Hong Kong and get myself busy, working after 6 till 8pm. I called her everyday.
She had her weekly checkup and later found out that 2 kidneys of my baby were
both dilated. It wasn't alarming but it added up to my worries.



to be continued....

[spidey]

wow bro, simula pa lang, nakaka-touch na.  antayin ko ung karugtong bro.

nde halatang pinagdaanan nyong mag-asawa yan...

[tonychel]

One Tuesday night, I had fellowship with Bro.Bob and Bro.Jong in Tsing Yi
and talked about anything as well as our plans and dreams. We stayed till
midnight and went home separately. I reached home at about 1 am and slept.
An hour later, phone rang and immediately woke me up. I knew it was Rachel.
She had fluid discharged and will be taken to hospital. After saying goodbye,
I prayed. I can’t sleep so I prayed till 3:00 am, same time Rachel was
admitted. I woke up at about 7am, called up Rachel, she was already in the
labor room. I prepared my clothes and rushed to office. I ask permission to
my boss that I ‘ll leave for Manila. I went to Central to pick up my plane
ticket and OEC. After that I went home, and called her again. I wasn't able
to talk to her. My sister in law said she’s still in the labor room. I started
packing up my stuff and finished at about half past 2pm. I still have a lots
of time and during that time, I started to worry, and got scared. Rachel
should have normal delivery.

Then my mobile phone rang. It was 3:00 prayer alarm. I stop. I paused and
started praying the 3 o’clock prayer. While I was praying, I can't stop
those tears falling from my eyes. I lifted up all my concerns to God, and
ask for safety of Rachel and my baby. After that, I was relieved. I closed
my luggage and locked and prepared myself to leave. 15 minutes, later ,
phone rang. It was my sister-in-law. Rachel had given a healthy
8.5lb baby boy by normal delivery. Rachel was fine as well as my baby.

YES!, PRAISE THE LORD!!! I shouted.

It was 3:00pm when my little boy got out of Rachel’s womb, the same
time when I was crying while praying. And even though I wasn’t there,
my heart, my mind was there, but one thing I knew for sure was that
Jesus Christ was there. He took care of everything. Doctors and nurses
were amazed with Rachel’s will and determination to deliver her baby
in normal way. It took her almost 12 hours in labor. I was really so
overjoyed that time and immediately called Bro.Jong, but he wasn't there.

My trip to back to Manila was the longest journey I had. I can't really
wait to see my dearest Rachel and my baby boy. If I could only snap and
bring myself instantly there, I will do. I arrived in Manila and my brother
took me straight to Medical City. I hurriedly rush to Rachel's room.
The moment I saw her, she has the happiest smile in her haggard face
and I kissed her while laying in bed .. She was just fine and felt better.
The doctor said her sugar level stabilized and went back to normal. She
said that my baby’s in the nursery room. After several minutes, she let
me go to see my baby boy. Excitement grew stronger as I go down
through the stair to 2nd floor. The viewing window was closed and
I went straight inside. I just found myself in the middle of the room
surrounded by many babies in their tiny boxes. Nurses pushed me out
and said that I’m not allowed to go inside. Of course I’m not.
I know I could smell EDSA smog in me, but I really wanted to see my baby.
They opened up curtain in the viewing window.

Rachel was discharged after 2 days but my little boy had to stay for
further examination. He was vaccinated.

Ultrasound result showed that both kidneys were back to normal size.
All other test showed that everything were normal. God has healed my
baby boy. After 5 days in nursery, we went home in Rachel’s uncle
in San Mateo. I stayed with them for 2 days and went back to HK.

I went back to Manila for the third time since January to attend my baby's
baptism. Last May 1, we came back to Hong Kong with Rachel , my baby
and my Mom. Franz Kristoffer which means bearer of Jesus Christ is the
name given by Rachel . He is now 2 months old, getting bigger and more
active. He is also the reason now I’m always late to work and rush
home after 6pm.

Once again, God proved to me that He is a loving God. He will always
keep His promise to us that He will never leave us nor forsake us. In
His own time, He gave us this precious gift we’ve been longing for.
In times of trouble, in times of suffering, we often think that God has
left us, but he hasn't. God brings us to these kinds of circumstances
because He loves us. He wants us to draw closer to Him and believe
in Him.

Anthony F
May 2002

 

[spidey]

bro tony, i agree. God is really a loving God and He will never leave us in our trying times.  gusto ko din sana i share ang experience ko, though it's not as touching as your story but it definitely gave me new hope and perspective in life.

will try to write about it, i just need to find time. as i've had that story etched in my heart.

what a wonderful story you got there bro! 

[neilski "mr.pogi"]

 

kuya tony.. naiyak ako...

kahit na alam ko na nangyari...

the best talaga si God.

xa lang ang ma pag titiwalaan natin...

God created us.. kaya sa kanya tayo hihinge

ng tulong.. at sya rin ang mag bibigay ng sagot..

wag lang tayo mawawalan ng pag asa..

pray lang ng pray... wag kakalimutan...

at sana ung  pag dadasal natin ay

taos sa puso.. at wag gawing biro...

 

[SoyTee]

Thanks sirTonychel for this heartfelt story.

[Don Xiexie]

brod tc ... nice.
at first di ko nakayanang simulan ang mahabang story -- sabi ko pa, wala akong time ... hehehe. sorry.

but for some reason - i stepped out of my meeting and had the time to read this one. pre, sakit sa dibdib ang napala ko. buti na lang happy ending kundi.... hahay.

but all is well that ends well ... especially if we hand over all the things that matters to us to Him.

God Bless us all!

[neilski "mr.pogi"]

teka...

si xiexie ba galing kay god?

hhhmmm.....

 

[Don Xiexie]

Si Neilski talaga oo ...

nag eemote na nga yung bampira eh ...

[tonychel]

All of us have experienced God's love, that's why everyone has stories to share.

Alecs, bro. sige antayin namin yung story mo.

soytee, glad you like it.

neilski, alam mo nga yung nangyari nung una pa.

xiexie, buti na lang hinati ko sa 2 parts, kasi haba nga eh.

neilski, pambira man, may puso pa rin, at may karapatang mag emote.



god bless!

[neilski "mr.pogi"]

sabagay...

parang tao rin palang

nasasaktan si xiexie...

 

hi xiexie

[Don Xiexie]

kung yung mga ano nga nasasaktan ...

eh ako pa?

Bwahahahaha. Ahem. excuse me.

[neilski "mr.pogi"]

xenxa na sir...

di ko kasi alam eh..

ngayon alam ko na...